PAUL Andre Harris has been quite an accomplished cartoonist in Guyana for some time now, but he never had as his goal to become an artist. As he puts it, it was just something he “bumped into” and decided to work hard at and develop. Along with his natural ability, he unwittingly developed his interest in art by observing the works of his father, Mr. Hawley Harris.
Paul’s story dispels the idea that positive results would come only to those who know exactly what they want in life at a tender age; those who from childhood know what they want to do and become after leaving school.
His story makes the point that even if a youth is not sure of what he/she wishes to become, he/she can still make something of him/herself, depending on his/her circumstances and what is available at the time. Though planning ahead has its benefits, like Paul, a youth can very well ‘bump’ into something and become expert at it.
In this vein, Paul, 53, has this to say: “I didn’t set out to become a cartoonist, it sort of just happened. I just bumped into it and I became interested, and I worked at it. Whatever I know as an artist I gained though practical experience.”
In fact, before he realized that he wanted to pursue art, he worked with an agency known as Carib Advertising, an advertising arm of what was then Bookers Stores, now Guyana Stores. He then moved on to work with the advertising arm of the Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation.
He sold copies of a sports paper called the ‘Weekend Sports Magazine’ and even worked with his dad on his rubber stamp business.
Through it all, though, Paul enjoyed watching his father draw pictures and images. “I was fascinated by it. I wasn’t fascinated by being a cartoonist but by the images he put together. And that’s what captured me.”
He read a lot of comic books, traced related images, and then drew them by hand. His father observed this and subsequently asked him to do a cartoon for the Chronicle newspaper, where he was at the time working.
Mr. Hawley Harris informed Paul that Chronicle had a cartoon competition, and asked him if he wanted to enter. Paul was a bit apprehensive because he still knew little about cartooning, but his father encouraged him to give it a try, and he did.
It turned out that the editors at the paper liked Paul’s cartoon. “There was nothing fantastic about it. The art wasn’t great or anything. It’s was just that the editors wanted something to lighten the mood of the people.”
Around that time, he explained, Guyana was experiencing shortages of food items, cooking oil, flour, gas, besides having constant blackouts. “People were greatly affected, it caused great frustration, and it really disrupted society at that time, because people could not get what they were accustomed to. People were generally unhappy.
“So the cartoon I did eventually came to be called ‘Justin Concern’. This character wasn’t concerned about anything; he just made light of the issues. It went from once a week to twice, then every day. It was in demand,” he said.
Paul now has his private collection of art. He enjoys drawing women and animals. He has also done a few sceneries, but cartoon animation remains his current interest. “Art is how I communicate. I’m not a great speaker, but I can convey my message and issues through art.”
Furthermore, it was Paul who painted all of the animals on the walls of the zoo. In an effort to generate money for the zoo, he is trying to get some businesses to advertise next to the paintings.
Paul explained what the best thing is about being an artist: “I enjoy the freedom it brings, in that I’m not tied down to one aspect, or one issue, or one perspective. I can look at it from whichever angle I choose. It also gives personal enjoyment. Some people take a drink to feel good, art is my thing. I just enjoy doing it.”
The worst part, though, is that people can get offended very easily. “Today’s world has become not only dangerous, but a place where sensitivities have reached a peak that the slightest thing you do offends someone.
“The slightest thing you do offends someone because certain sections of society come up with their rules and regulations of how their society should be. I may not necessarily be a member of their society, but I have my feelings, and I may express them and unwittingly offend them.”
Asked what advice he would give to aspiring artists in Guyana, Paul said: “It’s difficult, I won’t lie and say it would be all good; but if you truly want to make a living out of being an artist, you have to experiment. The only way you can be better at anything is to practise.
“There are many very talented artists in Guyana, and they think they have to go abroad with their talent. But abroad, whatever you are offering, they have thousands of people doing that kind of work already for years, and many of them have not made any impression to this day. So if you choose to enter into an outside market, be prepared to take a lot of blows, because it’s not going to be easy.”
Paul operates from home, and he has become so known that he would just be at home and receive calls for work. At one point in his life, he had to work on paper and deliver his work in person to the newspapers daily. But computer technology, as he puts it, has made life so much easier for him that now, all he has to do is upload his work on his computer and send it via email.
Asked what he thought was the role of the artist in society, Paul said: “Today’s world is run mainly by politics and big businesses. Artists provide a viewpoint. He can interpret issues, such as social issues.”
And according to him, it’s a job that pays if the artist is willing to work. There is no one place to provide work for the artist, but there are peak times when an artist’s services would be required, such as at around Mashramani and Easter, among several other times.
Paul is a father of two, and he credits his wife, Darlene, for her support to him over the years. “She has been a major support to me. When I met her, I fell in love; and to this day, I’m still in love. We’ve been married for 24 years. I never thanked her for it, but she has made me very happy.”